Sanitary toothpick dispenser



Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,061

0.1. YOUNG SAN'ITARY TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Filed Oct 29, 1923 amnion I as, W

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

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CHARLES L. YOUNG, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

SANITARY TOOTHPICK DISPENSER.

Application filed October 29, 1923. Serial No. 671,585.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. Youne, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new, novel, and useful improvements in a construction which I designate as a Sanitary Toothpick Dispenser, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification and exposition, being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

The object of this present invention, broadly stated, is to produce a new and useful tooth-pick dispenser which is simple and durable; in character, neat and attractive in appearance, novel in its operation, sanitary in practice, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

More specifically stated, my object is to provide a sanitary tooth-pick holder wherein tooth-picks may be kept clean and free from dust and insects, and wherein it will be impossible for the user thereof to withdraw but one pick at a time, and by which the user will be unable to touch but the one pick which he withdraws, thereby not only preventing one from withdrawing a plurality of picks at one time but preventing one from handling the picks which are in the container.

Uther minor objects and particular advantages of the invention will be suggested in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be set forth in the appended claim.

The means for carrying out my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an external view of my invention in operation, showing the same turned to open the closure and showing a toothpick protruding from the device. Figure 2 is a side ole vation of the device, in upright position. Figure 3 is a vertical section taken centrally through the device. And Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the advantages of the invention may be more fully understood and appreciated I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth. the same as fully and as clearly as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: Numeral 1 denotes a container having an open upper end, and it is adapted to contain a plurality of tooth-picks A standing on end therein.

The cap for the container consists of two parts: The vertical wall'portion 2, which is in the nature of a band to surround the upper end of the container, the same being formed with threads to mesh with like threads formed around in the periphery of the upright portion of the container 1, whereby the cap may be detachably secured to the container as shown, however I am not to be limited to the particular means shown for connecting the cap with the container. The other element of the cap is the domeshaped top 3, which is integral with the wall 2. Said domeeshaped top curves upward and inward convergently and uniformly, and an exit aperture 4 is formed through the center of said domes 3, through which aperture a tooth-pick A may pass endwise, but said aperture is not of sufficient size to permit more than one tooth-pick to pass therethrough at one time.

Secured to the outside of the top 3 and near the wall "2, that is remote from the aperture 4:, is a pair of cars or hangers 5 and 5', which extend upwardly as shown. A pivot 6 extends horizontally between the upper end portions of said ears.

Numeral 7 denotes a closure disc which has a cavity in its lower face in which is secured the pad 8.

Rig-idly connected with the side of the disc 7 is an arm 9, whose outer end is located between said ears where it is rotatably mounted on the pivot 6. The length of the arm 9 is such that when the device is in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and i, the'cap 7 will be directly over the aperture eland concentric with the dome 3 and with the pad 8 contacting with the surface of the dome and therefore closing the aperture 5, as shown.

Said arm 9 projects slightly outward beyond the ears 5 and 5 forming a lug or stop 10 to prevent the arm from being turned outward beyond slightly less than vertical position, in order to insure the disc coming to position to close said aperture when the device is placed in vertical position.

It will now be seen that the closure disc 7 is free to swing upward and outward but will be automatically brought to closing position by gravity when the device is in vertical position.

Now if the container be grasped in ones hand and turned upside down, or nearly so, then the disc 7 will swing away from the dome 3, thereby uncovering the aperture 4, and permitting a tooth-pick to pass into and through said aperture. As the inside of the dome 3 is formed concave it is evident that the ends of the tooth-picks will be uided to the center of the dome and therefore to said aperture t,so that when the device is turned upside down the tooth-picks will always be inclined toward the aperture whether the container be full or only a few tooth-picks be therein.

From the above it is evident that when the device is in vertical position the toothpicks will 'be protected from dust and insects and enclosed whereby they can not'be handled. Then when one desires a toothpick he has only to turn the device upside down, thereby causing a single tooth-pick to project out through the aperture 4 where it may be grasped by the user and removed. After which when the device is again set down in vertical position the said aperture will be automatically closed, for the purposes stated, thereby accomplishing the objects of this invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A tooth pick holder and dispenser, comprising in combination, a container having an open upper end and adapted to contain tooth picks standing on end therein, a cap for the open end of the container, said cap being dome-shaped with an exit aperture formed through the center thereof, a pair of ears secured to the surface of the cap and near the periphery thereof, a pivot connecting said ears,'a closure disc having a cavity in its lower face, a pad secured in said cavity, an arm rigidly secured to the edge of the disc with its opposite end located between said ears and rota'tably mounted on said pivot, a lug forming an outward 'rojection of said arm to prevent the arm rom turning outward beyond vertical position, said pad being adapted to rest on the surface of the cap and close saidap'e'rture, all substantially as set forth.

CHARLES L. YOUNG. 

